Accident Overview
Shortly after departing from Eagle County Airport, the pilot encountered a problem with the nose door, which opened after rotation. The pilot decided to return to the airport. During the return, while executing a turn, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground near the runway. The aircraft was destroyed, and all five occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined that the probable cause was a stall during the traffic pattern after the pilot diverted attention from the operation of the aircraft. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to retract the landing gear, failure to maintain flying speed, inadequate preflight preparation, and the right nose door lock being found in the unlocked position.
Sequence of Events
The flight began with a takeoff from Eagle County Airport. During the initial climb, the pilot noted the nose door had opened. The pilot then initiated a return to the airport. While maneuvering in the traffic pattern, the aircraft entered a stall. The loss of control occurred during a turn, and the aircraft subsequently crashed onto airport property. The accident resulted in the destruction of the airplane.
Preflight and Takeoff
Before departure, the pilot performed preflight preparations. However, the investigation found that these preparations were inadequate. Specifically, the right nose door lock was in the unlocked position. During the takeoff climb, the nose door opened.
Return and Loss of Control
After noticing the nose door issue, the pilot decided to return to Eagle County Airport. While flying the traffic pattern, the pilot initiated a turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled. The pilot failed to retract the landing gear and did not maintain sufficient flying speed, leading to the stall. The aircraft subsequently crashed near the runway.